Reading the Arthashastra: On internal security

Conciliation, dissension and coercion

What prescriptions does Kautilya offer for internal security? He starts the chapter on “internal and external dangers” by noting that these dangers arise due to wrongly concluded “treaties and other settlements”.

He places threats into four categories. The most serious one arises from internal originators and internal abettors and is like the “fear from a lurking snake”. Second to this is the purely external threat, both originated and abetted by foreigners. Third comes the internally originated but externally abetted threat, followed by the externally originated, internally abetted threat.

So how should the king deal with these? For the purely internal threat—when originators and abettors are locals—he advises a policy of conciliation and coercion.

He may employ the policy of conciliation with regard to those who keep the appearance of contentment, or who are naturally discontented or otherwise. Gifts may be given under the pretext of having been satisfied with a favoured man’s steadfastness… or under the plea of anxious care about his weal or woe. [Arthashastra IX:5]

In addition, he advocates the use of spies split the ranks of the conspirators and their sympathisers. Kautilya is ruthless when it comes to coercive tactics against leaders of the conspiracy–the punishment is usually death, including what might today be termed “extra judicial killings”.
In fact, taking out the leaders is Kautilya’s central prescription for handling discontented and disaffected people.

Disaffection or disloyalty (viraga) can be got rid of by putting down the leaders; for in the absence of a leader or leaders, the people are easily governed (bhogya) and they will not take part in the intrigues of enemies. [Arthashastra VII:5]

When the threat is purely external, Kautilya advocates a policy of sowing dissension and coercion—essentially through the use of covert means. This entails the use of double agents to create splits among the conspirators and assassins to kill them.

In the other two contexts involving a combination of internal and external actors, Kautilya proposes the use of the dissension and coercion against the foreign element, and conciliation to suppress the local.

When local persons are abetting (with foreigners), the means to be employed to suppress them are conciliation (sama) and gifts (dana). The act of pleasing a man with a high rank and honour is conciliation; favour and remission of taxes or employment to conduct state-works is what is termed gifts.[Arthashastra IX:5]

Kautilya’s approach makes a clear distinction between leaders and sympathisers of internal threats. Leaders are to be neutralised, either by co-opting them or by eliminating them. Sympathisers, on the other hand, are to be offered conciliation. The foreign element relies heavily on the use of spies and assumes that the state has the requisite covert action capability to execute disinformation, defections and assassinations.

6 thoughts on “Reading the Arthashastra: On internal security”

I am sure the human rights yahoos will have a problem with this Hinduwadi RSS supporter Brahmin Chankaya. I am sure they will also find some ‘ancient manuscript’ or some other version of Chankaya-niti in which Chankaya takes back his words. Like Ram destroying Ram-sethu!

Nitin thanks for that part on tackling the leaders, internal or external. This, clearly, is not a legislative problem – POTA may contain, but will not solve it. This requires some executive backbone especially on the foreign angle. The Israelis have shown how to defend a policy of political assassinations against the moral brigade. Time to adopt their playbook. We’re big enough in the global scheme of things to plausibly claim that this is an essential instrument of state policy.

‘plausibly claim that this is an essential instrument of state policy.’

Although it might give some public appearance of strength, I think it is prudent not to advertise such an Israeli-style elimination policy too much, should one have it. Actions speak louder than words.

I come back to same point over and over again. This is a total failure of our intelligence agencies. They will never learn. The entire system has to be changed from top to bottom. India is simply incapable of fighting terror. So many blasts and no one had any previous clues. What a joke!!! Instead of spending tax payer money paying victims 5 lakh Rs every time this happens why not put that money to fighting this proactively – day in and day out. Our political system is bankrupt of ideas. India will never realize its potential. We will always be the also-ran unless we tackle all forms of terrors – jihadi and naxal based. I’ve come to realize one thing unlike other Western nations – we in India – can never bring about wholesale changes with just talk – blogs, TV, newspapers and what have you! Because talk is cheap – no one cares. Indians can only bring about major changes with either resorting to violence (happens all the time with quotas) or mass grassroot movements. The need of the hour is now!!!! Less talk, more action!

photonman: Although it might give some public appearance of strength, I think it is prudent not to advertise such an Israeli-style elimination policy too much, should one have it. Actions speak louder than words.

The potential targets of this policy must know what the game is though. There must be no doubt about the response. Some sort of signaling system must exist. Else, when a monkey goes Boom in Rawalpindi, the waters are so muddy it could be anybody.

Of course, we are ahead of ourselves here as Anuraag pointed out. Will be looking for Narayanan’s response in a week or so. If there is none – well, guess we’re back to the 5 lakhs per dead citizen and onto the next attack.

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I am sure the human rights yahoos will have a problem with this Hinduwadi RSS supporter Brahmin Chankaya. I am sure they will also find some ‘ancient manuscript’ or some other version of Chankaya-niti in which Chankaya takes back his words. Like Ram destroying Ram-sethu!

libertarian

Nitin thanks for that part on tackling the leaders, internal or external. This, clearly, is not a legislative problem – POTA may contain, but will not solve it. This requires some executive backbone especially on the foreign angle. The Israelis have shown how to defend a policy of political assassinations against the moral brigade. Time to adopt their playbook. We’re big enough in the global scheme of things to plausibly claim that this is an essential instrument of state policy.

photonman

‘plausibly claim that this is an essential instrument of state policy.’

Although it might give some public appearance of strength, I think it is prudent not to advertise such an Israeli-style elimination policy too much, should one have it. Actions speak louder than words.

Anuraag

I come back to same point over and over again. This is a total failure of our intelligence agencies. They will never learn. The entire system has to be changed from top to bottom. India is simply incapable of fighting terror. So many blasts and no one had any previous clues. What a joke!!! Instead of spending tax payer money paying victims 5 lakh Rs every time this happens why not put that money to fighting this proactively – day in and day out. Our political system is bankrupt of ideas. India will never realize its potential. We will always be the also-ran unless we tackle all forms of terrors – jihadi and naxal based. I’ve come to realize one thing unlike other Western nations – we in India – can never bring about wholesale changes with just talk – blogs, TV, newspapers and what have you! Because talk is cheap – no one cares. Indians can only bring about major changes with either resorting to violence (happens all the time with quotas) or mass grassroot movements. The need of the hour is now!!!! Less talk, more action!

libertarian

photonman: Although it might give some public appearance of strength, I think it is prudent not to advertise such an Israeli-style elimination policy too much, should one have it. Actions speak louder than words.

The potential targets of this policy must know what the game is though. There must be no doubt about the response. Some sort of signaling system must exist. Else, when a monkey goes Boom in Rawalpindi, the waters are so muddy it could be anybody.

Of course, we are ahead of ourselves here as Anuraag pointed out. Will be looking for Narayanan’s response in a week or so. If there is none – well, guess we’re back to the 5 lakhs per dead citizen and onto the next attack.